Your Daily Briefing – 04/13/2026

MAGIC VALLEY NEWS

MAJOR EMPLOYER SHUTTING DOWN

A major employer in the Magic Valley is shutting down—Idahoan Foods will close its Rupert plant by the end of June. The facility on Oneida Street in Rupert employs 61 people. The company says it’ll support workers through the transition but hasn’t shared a reason for the closure.

FOREST SERVICE JOBS AT RISK

Proposed changes to the U.S. Forest Service could impact over 100 Idaho jobs, with about 60 employees already notified their positions may be affected. Officials say workers may have to relocate, find new roles, or leave the agency, though no timeline has been announced. Union leaders warn that the uncertainty could impact forest health and wildfire prevention efforts across the state.

CHILDCARE PROGRAM UNDER REVIEW

A state investigation into Idaho’s childcare program found relatively few fraud cases—but lawmakers still have concerns. Out of 776 providers reviewed, just 28 were flagged for misconduct. Still, legislators are pulling back about 30 million dollars in expansion funding, leaving the program’s future uncertain.

RURAL HEALTHCARE FUNDING PUSH

A new group of Idaho lawmakers is getting to work on rural healthcare—overseeing a nearly $930 million federal grant aimed at improving access across the state. The committee, made up entirely of Republicans, is racing to help award this year’s $186 million by an October deadline, with projects focused on technology, workforce, and rural care access.

EARLY VOTING BEGINS

Early voting for Idaho’s May Primary kicks off Monday in some counties, while others—including Jerome—start May 4. All early voting wraps up May 15, with Election Day set for May 19. Voters are encouraged to check registration and polling details ahead of time.

IDAHO SCHOOL FUNDING LAGS

Idaho ranks last in the nation for school funding, just over 11 thousand dollars per student, well below the national average of about 17 thousand. That gap has persisted for years, with neighboring states like Wyoming and Washington spending significantly more per pupil.

TWIN FALLS CRIMINAL CASE

A Twin Falls man has pleaded guilty to multiple child sex crime charges. 21-year-old James Dover accepted a plea deal, with several charges dropped. He’ll undergo a psychosexual evaluation and is scheduled to be sentenced June 22.

SPORTS

BASEBALL RESULTS & POSTPONEMENTS

High school baseball from yesterday—Glenns Ferry and Garden Valley were postponed in conference play. At Kimberly, Buhl and Kimberly split a doubleheader—Game one, Kimberly put up 27 runs to beat Buhl 27 to 7… but Buhl bounced back in game two, shutting Kimberly out 3 to nothing. Over in Wendell, Declo picked up a win over Wendell, 12 to 5.

WENDELL SOFTBALL TURNS SEASON AROUND

Wendell softball may have just changed its season. The Trojans snapped a four-game skid against conference rival Declo with a huge 7 to 6 extra-inning win Tuesday, taking a major step toward their goal of reaching the 3A state tournament for the first time since 2015.

BUSY DAY ON THE DIAMOND

It’s a busy day on the diamond across Southern Idaho. In high school varsity baseball, Canyon Ridge heads on the road for a conference doubleheader at Madison—first pitch at 3, then again at 5. Canyon Ridge comes in at 6 and 12, while Madison sits at 9 and 11.
Over to softball—Canyon Ridge takes on Burley in a doubleheader at 3 and 5. Ridge is 3 and 11, Burley at 7 and 9. Jerome hits the road to face Twin Falls—also at 3 and 5. Jerome is 7 and 10, Twin Falls 8 and 11. Minico travels to Wood River, same schedule—3 and 5. Minico is 7 and 9, Wood River 8 and 11.

BOISE STATE SPRING GAME

The Boise State Broncos football Spring Game is set for Saturday at Albertsons Stadium… kickoff at 1:30. It’s free to get in and park, with gates opening at 12:30. Fans will get a live scrimmage, autograph session, and a look at the quarterback battle, new faces, and running back depth as the 2026 squad makes its public debut.

WEATHER

TODAY

Mostly sunny with a high near 57. Breezy, with west winds 16 to 22 mph and gusts up to 36 mph.

TONIGHT

Partly cloudy, low around 37. Winds easing overnight but still gusting up to 34 mph.

FRIDAY

Sunny, high near 57. West winds 9 to 17 mph, gusts up to 29 mph.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear, low around 32. Winds shifting south after midnight.

WEEKEND OUTLOOK

Saturday: Sunny, high near 61.
Saturday Night: 20% chance of showers, low around 38.
Sunday: Chance of rain and snow showers early, then rain showers, high near 58.